EU must keep ban on arms sales to China

In a debate with the Council in the European Parliament today ALDE MEPs slammed suggestions that the European Union should lift its ban on selling weapons to China. ALDE shadow and spokesperson on International Trade Johan Van Hecke (VLD, Belgium) condemned the idea, arguing: "The European Union should not be wasting its principles for a handful of silver". ALDE MEP and spokesperson on Foreign Affairs Cecilia Malmström (Svenska Folkpartiet, Sweden), who also spoke in the debate, said: "If the ban is lifted before we see progress in democracy and human rights in China, then the credibility of Europe and the original message of the ban can only suffer."
 
Speaking during the debate, Mr Van Hecke said:

 

"The principles that the Union feels so strongly about should not have to make way for plain mercantilism. The European Union should not be wasting its principles for a handful of silver. Saying that in the absence of a ban the European Code of Conduct on arms exports would impose strong restrictions on the arms trade with China is simply untrue. There are still too many loopholes in the Code of Conduct to guarantee watertight controls. The Code should be legally binding to allow for sanctions and offer more transparency."

 

"At this very moment, there is a constant military threat across the Strait of Taiwan, where more than 500 missiles are deployed. Europe cannot supply arms to a country that is willing to use violence in its pursuit of territorial integrity."

 

Ms Malmström said:

 

"The arms ban was a response to the Tiananmen square massacre of 1989. It stands for Europe's rejection of China's authoritarian regime. China has changed, but that regime has not. China may be a business opportunity but it is also the world's largest dictatorship. What signal would Europe send to the thousands of pro-democracy activists in prison or work camps if it were to sell guns to the very government that oppresses them? Do we want European missiles and submarines used to intimidate Taiwan? The EU stands for values and those values matter more than selling another gun or fighter jet. The EU - China arms ban must not be lifted."